Brother Offers Tour of Missing Family's Home

Mike McStay, Joseph's brother gave reporters a tour of the home located on the 3400 block of Avocado Vista Lane in North County. He said the home has been cleaned and vacuumed in the time since the family disappeared.

Inside, the house is in a moderate level of disarray -- mostly because the home was in the process of being remodeled, according to Mike. Four upstairs bedrooms are, for the most part, empty. Several children's toys, including a large playhouse remain in the house.

The Whole Family Is Missing

What happened to the McStays and their two young children? (Published Tuesday, Feb 16, 2010)

The master bedroom is empty. Furniture had yet to be delivered, said Mike McStay. In a walk-in closet, Mike Mcstay said, several purses were found but did not appear to be currently being used. Downstairs, strips of masking tape protect the edgings of several walls --- the kitchen was being repainted. Two sets of sunglasses, one of which has prescription lenses, were found on a counter.

In the garage, a double stroller sits with several wetsuits resting on top of it. Mike McStay said his brother would always take the stroller on planned trips.

Man Talks About Brother's Missing Family

Earlier this month, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Dept released surveillance video that may have captured the McStay family entering Mexico.

The video was recorded at the San Ysidro border crossing Feb. 8, the same day the Mcstay's white Isuzu Trooper was found illegally parked at a nearby strip mall.

At the bottom left corner of the video, you can see a man walking hand in hand with a child. Following him is a woman in a white jacket, holding the hand of another child.

San Diego County Sheriff's investigators say this could be Joseph McStay and his wife Summer with their two kids, crossing the border into Tijuana.

"There's a very high probability it's them,” said Sheriff's homicide Lt. Dennis Brugos.

Detectives showed the video to their family. Some recognized the white jacket that the woman is wearing in the video, but other family members aren't sure it's them because of the poor quality of the video.

"It's very grainy, overshadowed, there's no definition to shape,” said Mike McStay.

Since their disappearance, investigators said, the McStays haven't used their bank accounts, credit cards or cell phones.

"They could be down there on their own volition, and just wanted to drop out for awhile, that's one theory,” said Brugos. "They could have gone down there for the evening and got into a situation they couldn't get out of."

Anyone with information about the case is being urged to call deputies at 858-974-2321 or 858-565-5200 after-hours. Tips can also be called in anonymously to CrimeStoppers at 888-580-TIPS(8477). A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered by CrimeStoppers for information leading to an arrest.